Therapeutic properties of honey
We must highlight that it is owner of an important bactericid activity against organisms that cause intestinal tract infections, usuals at every ages.
Studies in vitro of Heliocobacter pilori (one of the causes of gastritis) have demonstrated that this bacterium is 20% inhibited by a honey solution. In experiences with anemic pacients the administration of a soft diet and 30 ml of honey three times a day it resulted to be an effective medicine in 66% of pacients and it offered alleviation to another 17%.
For bacterial gastroenteritis treatments it was discovered that honey reduces the duration of diarrhea, caused by organisms like Salmonella, Shigella and E. Colli. Lots of investigators recomend honey as a safe substitute of glucose. Besides, its high content of sugars means that it can be used to promote the absorption of sodium and water within the intestine.
Honey consumption reduces the secretion of gastric acids. Some tests practised over people and animals have demonstrated an 80% recovery rate in the whole of 600 gastric ulcers. In radiologic examinations it was noticed that the ulcers have dissappeared in a 59% of the cases.
A recent study over animals has demonstrated that fructosy (an abundant sugar in honey) application, previously to the etanol ingestion, offers protection against gastric damages and inverts the changes in PH inducted by etanol. In later clinic treatments it was concluded that fructosy could be propitious to reduce the duration of alcoholic intoxication.
Another good aplication of this natural substance is its utilization as ointment at injuries because it is neither irritable nor toxic. It is steril, bactericid, nutritious, of easy application and much more comfortable than other ointments.
Because of its sweetening power some studies are being practised in order to use honey on diets for diabetics since fructosy is more slowly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract than glucose and is faster incorporated by the liver. The levels of sugar on blood raise after fructosy ingestion.